Fuel economy is a major purchase consideration for new-vehicle shoppers; in fact it’s the No. 1 thing they look for in a car or truck. Consumers continue to demand ever greater mileage, and so does the federal government. Washington keeps turning up the wick on its Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) regulations. In response to these stimuli automakers are working day and night to improve the efficiency of their products.
Roughly 100,000 Ford and Mercury minivans might be added to a recall announced earlier this year.
What’s the most important step a manufacturer undertakes when creating a new car? Building a great chassis? Getting the interior ergonomics right? Providing the perfect drivetrain to complement the new product? Nope. All wrong. The really, really important factor for any new car is getting the name right.
All joking aside, a vehicle’s name is very important. Slap a clever name on a car and it can help boost sales. Conversely, choose a bad name for a vehicle, like Probe or Dictator, and it can hurt sales. Manufacturers spend a lot of time and money analyzing potential model names.
Well, that’s usually what happens, but sometimes, the creativity well runs dry. Every now and then a new vehicle receives a name that leaves us all wondering: “Really? That’s all they could think of?” Not to get confused with naming conventions that are just lazy, like Mazda’s numbered sequence or Mercedes-Benz’s lettered sequence. No, we are referring to model names that give the perception maybe the marketing team forgot to show up one day and the engineers were left in charge of naming the new ride. “We are pleased to announce the latest from Hyonbaru Motors, ‘The Car!” Don’t laugh, some the following models are even worse.
Over 1.5 million Ford SUVs have been cleared in a government probe that examined allegations they were at risk of rolling away.
Ford has announced a recall affecting roughly 230,000 minivans dating back to 2004.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) opened an investigation on February 21 that affects almost 725,000 vehicles from Ford and Mercury.
After a series of complaints about seats failing to latch properly in 2004 Ford Windstars and Mercury Monterey minivans, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is upgrading its inquiry of the 63,000 vans from an investigation to an engineering analysis.
Speeding is dangerous. Speeding at night time while drunk is just stupid. Doing all that with young children on board has to be among the dumbest things a person can do.
However, Oregon Police had to deal with just such a driver this morning. Maria Elena Andres, 30, was cited for speeding at about 2:20 a.m. Her car finally stopped after a half-hour chase, which ended with the police using a spike strip to pop the tires on her 1998 Mercury Sable.
When the state troopers approached her car, they found her four-year old son and nine-year old daughter in the back seat. Thankfully they were belted in the car and unharmed.
Andres was taken to Lane County Jail and was charged with eluding the police, driving under the influence of intoxicants, and two counts of reckless driving. Her children were turned over to the Department of Human Services.
The exact details of her fines or jail time have not been published, but at least her children are in safer custody.
[Source: Oregon Live]
This one almost left us speechless. Almost. Up for sale in Chicoutimi, QC, Canada is a custom 1993 Mercury Topaz that’s been converted to a pickup truck. Yes you heard that correctly, the 2.3L four-cylinder, front-wheel drive Topaz can now haul around… well, anything!
The 1993 Mercury Topaz had all of 96-hp from its 2.3L, four-cylinder powerplant. And why anyone would think it would be a good idea to convert the automatic transmission-equipped crap-box to a pickup truck is beyond us. But hey, according to the for sale post it’s very economic, just got a new windshield, and new battery. And now it’s looking for a new owner.
[Source: Kijiji]
After encountering 30 incidents involving cracked wheel studs and steel wheels separating from the vehicles, Ford will be recalling 128,616 2010 and 2011 Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan sedans to fix the issue.
An investigation by NHTSA led to the recall, though no injuries have been reported. Ford will notify owners of the affected vehicles, inspect them at dealerships and replace any components free of charge. Check out the official article below the jump for more information.
The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration has upgraded their investigation into consumer complaints that the 2010 Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan vehicles are affected by wheel stud fractures that cause the wheels to come off.
The initial investigation of 317,315 Ford mid-sized sedans has been upgraded to an engineering analysis after more than 29 complaints and 128 warranty related claims were filed because of these fractures. ”We’ll fully cooperate with the government as they review this matter,” Ford spokesman Wes Sherwood said. “We are not aware at this point of any allegations of injuries related to this matter.” The current engineering analysis investigation does not always lead to recalls, but that situation has not yet been ruled out.
[Source: Automotive News]
A Bugatti Veyron costs over $2 million, not exactly in the price range for the majority of people on this planet. So what happens when you really want to rock a Bugatti Veyron but can’t afford it? Convert your existing car to look like one, that’s how. This enthusiast in Palm Bay, Florida did exactly that, taking his ultra-dull Mercury Cougar and fabricating a whole new body onto it to resemble a Bugatti Veyron.
Based on the photos, we’re pretty darn impressed by the craftsmanship that went into the project, even if the idea is ridiculous. The builder states that a one-inch tubular steel-frame was glassed onto the Cougar along with plenty of composite and fiberglass to construct the Bugatti body. Along with the Veyron body conversion, the owner had it repainted in Ferrari red and black, with a two-tone scheme found on genuine Veyrons.
Other than the 20-inch staggered wheels, the rest of the car is stock. That means you’ll get to look the part of sporting a Bugatti, but miss out on the performance that the Veyron is notorious for. The stock Cougar 2.5L V6 is packing 120,000 miles too, so we hope whoever ends up buying it off eBay gets themselves a motor swap… maybe one from a Veyron? Nah, that would just be silly; who would want to do such a thing?
[Source: eBay]
Speed Channel is gearing up to release The Car Show, a talk show led by Adam Carolla, Dan Neil, John “Spider” Salley and AutoGuide contributor Matt Farah.
The show hits the air on July 13. In the short clips released, the hosts tell us about their very first vehicles and driving experiences, ranging from a Honda 400 Four in the case of Adam Carolla to Matt Farah’s 1993 Mercury Villager LS. Oh Matt, look how far you’ve come.
Check out all the hosts stories of their first cars after the jump!
Car owners are more satisfied with independent shops for maintenance, according to a latest Consumer Reports Annual Survey. The survey was based on more than 92,000 reports on service visits to independent mechanics and 230,000 service visits to new car dealerships.
Buick and Lincoln were among the leaders with a score of 93, on a scale from 0 to 100, including service experience. Independent shops received 93 and 94 points for maintenance. Cadillac, Land Rover and BMW followed closely, each earning 92 points for dealership service experience.
The overall consensus was that respondents were more satisfied with service from independent mechanics compared to service from new car dealerships for maintenance-only service.
The top ranked brands for dealership service satisfaction include: Lincoln, Buick, Land Rover, Cadillac, Mercury, BMW, GMC, Chevrolet, Lexus, and Ford.
[Source: Consumer Reports]
NHTSA is investigating the 2010-2011 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner for a rear window that could potentially shatter. So far, the government agency has received 18 complaints regarding the rear window shattering when the tailgate is opened or closed.
200,000 Escape and Mariner vehicles will now be investigated, and Ford has issued a service bulletin regarding the problem. One woman and her 10 year old son were reportedly injured by glass shards. Ford and NHTSA have not issued recalls yet, but a Ford spokesman told the Detroit News that they were “aware of the investigation.”
[Source: Detroit News]
Normally we have huge gripes about an awesome concept with poor execution, but this time we can’t bring ourselves to complain. OK, sure it’s not exactly at the top of our list of things to do – nor would we be the ones forking out the cash for it – but we can’t say it’s the most horrible idea in the world. Is it bad? Sure. Is it awful? Maybe. Is the finished product really that bad? Not really.
Starting with a 1999-2002 Mercury Cougar, some aspiring entrepreneur came up with a Bugatti Veyron kit car. It’s clearly a whole lot of fibreglass work to do the conversion, and at the end of the day you’re still missing all the performance the Veyron has to offer, and we’re not even getting into the interior amenities. But hey, if you’ve got $89,000 lying around and you live to fake the funk this kit car may be for you.
Or if you just live in some real rural area where no one would be the wiser, this may be the best investment you’ve ever done.
It’s official, the very last Mercury has now left the building. On Tuesday, January 4th at 8:00 am, said vehicle, a 2011 Grand Marquis, finally rolled off the line at the St. Thomas plant, which has been building these body-on-frame behemoths for 25 years.
Originally the car was slated to be completed before the new year, but delays in parts shipments, caused by severe weather in Southwestern Ontario, pushed production into the first days of the new year.
Even until the very end, the Grand Marquis remained a highly profitable vehicle for Lincoln-Mercury dealers as well as the best selling car in the lineup. As was probably expected, there was little fanfare or celebration, as the car was rolled on to the transporter, to be delivered as part of a fleet order.
Although the Merc represented the last Grand Marquis built at St Thomas, it isn’t quite the end of Panther chassis production. Ford Crown Victorias will continue to be assembled there, primarily for police and taxi fleets, until September, when the plant is scheduled to close.
[Source: Autoweek]
After 71 years of acting as Ford’s middle child, the final nail in the Mercury coffin was pounded in, as dealers removed all remnants of Mercury logos and signs from their dealerships, marking the end of the brand’s existence once and for all.
Mercury vehicles ended production in October, although a final order for government agencies continued to be produced. Although Mercury produced some iconic vehicles, such as the early sedans used in the hot-rodding community, and the Cougar muscle car, the brand became little more than cosmetically enhanced Ford products throughout the 1980′s and 1990′s, giving consumers scant reason to purchase a Mercury vehicle.
[Source: Detroit News]
The very last Mercurys might be rolling off the assembly lines as this blog is posted, but the brand will likely have a long future yet, at least in classic car circles.
If marques like Edsel, Plymouth and Studebaker are anything to go by, then Mercurys will likely resonate with collectors and car enthusiasts long after the name becomes a distant memory amongst regular consumers. Mercury also has a number of cars produced in it’s 72 year existence that will likely attract more collector attention than most.
The 1940s ‘woodie’ wagons and convertibles are highly prized among collectors, while the 1949-51 ‘Bathtub’ Mercurys have long been a favorite with custom car fans. Cars like the Cyclone, Cougar (shown) and Marauder also rank among the best of the muscle car era.
And prices seem to reflect a growing demand for Mercurys on the auction circuit. Not too long ago, a 1969 Cougar (a luxury XR7, not a performance oriented Eliminator), went under the gavel for almost $100,000 at one of Mecum’s Auctions, while RM sold a 1946 Mercury Sportsman Woodie for a staggering $368,000.
But there are those that believe it will be tough for Mercury to perhaps resonate with tomorrow’s collectors who might have little idea of the brand’s storied history. However, Garry Bennett, V-P of Consignment for Barrett-Jackson, believes that the brand will follow in the manner of some other ‘orphan’ makes, with certain cars especially, attracting a following. Not too long ago he said, “the fact that they’re going to discontinue [Mercury], it’s going to create new awareness.”
[Source: Autoweek]
It’s official. Ford has announced that production of Mercury vehicles for retail customers will end on Sunday, October 10 this year. It’s not entirely the end of Merc manufacturing – vehicles will continue to roll off the assembly lines for a few more months, but they will be aimed strictly at fleet buyers – rental car companies, government agencies and the like.
But even as production winds down, there actually seems to be fewer deals to be had – including the loss of bonus cash offers – quite extraordinary, since sales of Mercury vehicles have spiked recently. In August, the brand sold 9,039 vehicles for the month, comprising 2,976 Mariner SUVs, 2013 Milan mid-size sedans, 651 Mountaineer SUVs and, get this, 3,399 Grand Marquis full-size sedans – proving that even on its deathbed the old body-on-frame rear drive mastadon is just as much a gravy boat now as it ever was.
Although production will be ending on Sunday, Mercury dealers will still be selling cars as long as inventory remains available. So if you fancy getting yourself one of the last examples of Ford’s original medium priced brand, better get your skates on. Here’s some of the offers currently being pedaled by dealers and good at least through Monday next week.
[Source: USA Today/Drive On]
Ford is looking to cut another 300 dealers as part of an effort to increase profitability. The move comes as part of a move to wind down its Mercury brand, and consolidate its sales network amid decreased demand for cars.
“The dealers are full partners in every decision the company makes,” said Jim Farley, Ford’s group vice president for global marketing, sales and service. “When you are trying to consolidate your network from 6,000 down to 3,000, the dealers are on your side, and they will help you participate in the consolidation.”
The elimination of Mercury will also put pressure on Lincoln dealers, as the two are often paired with one another. It’s unlikely that standalone Lincoln stores would be profitable enough to survive, leading many to expect their demise.
[Source: egmCarTech]
A new report detailing customer satisfaction in the auto industry has just been released, with domestic brands Lincoln-Mercury and Buick taking the top spots. The annual American Customer Satisfaction Index survey points to a slight decline overall in consumers’ satisfaction with their vehicles, but shows strong results for domestic automakers.
In total, the satisfaction index has dropped from 84 (out of 100) in 2009 to 82. The highest score, with a total of 89 points, is shared by Lincoln and the now defunct Mercury brand with a gain of 1 point over last year’s survey. Buick remain unchanged at 88 points.
In many ways these gains are also the result of losses by other automakers, with 14 of the 18 top brands declining.
Sharing the third position with 86 points are BMW (down 1 point), Mercedes-Benz (unchanged) and Cadillac (down 3 points).
The biggest gainer for 2010 is Nissan, climbing 4 points to 82 on the index. Big losers included Honda (off 4 points to 84), Chevrolet (off 3 points to 80) and Volkswagen (with the biggest loss of 5 points, down to 81).
Interestingly, despite Toyota’s recall woes, the company lost just 2 points down to 84, although the same issues are beleived to be responsible for the larger drop of 4 points for the Lexus brand, down to 84.
The ACSI survey is the result of 250 interviews per manufacturer with owners aged 18 to 84.
[Source: Automotive News]
Car and Driver’s campaign to “Save the Manuals” campaign is spreading, with Consumers Reports doing their part for the movement by compiling a comprehensive list of all new cars available with a manual gearbox.
A few years ago, you could find some real oddities with a stick shift – a BMW X5 for example. Now, the list is largely what you’d expect; compact pickups, economy cars, the occasional luxury sedan with sporting pretensions, and of course, performance cars.
But there is one totally-out-of-left-field choice on the list that stands out from the others; the Mercury Milan (though not the hybrid pictured above), which can be had with a stick like its Ford Fusion counterpart. Better act fast if you want one.
Hit the jump to see the full list of cars that will let you shift for yourself
[Source: Consumers Reports]
Five Lincoln concept cars, as well as one Mercury concept will go up for auction at RM’s Sports & Classics of Monterey on August 12th. The six concepts are being sold by Ford Motor Co. through RM Auctions, a well known auction house that regularly handles ultra high end vehicles. All vehicles, except the Lincoln Navicross and Mercury Messenger, can be driven, although it is illegal to drive them on public roads. All proceeds from the auction will benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and The Children’s Center.
[Source: Carscoop]
Gallery: Lincoln & Mercury Concept Vehicles
